Stainless Old Model Flattop .44 Mag

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hittman

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So, we have a gun re-barreled with the finish scrubbed off, advertised 24 years newer than it really is and in A box but not THE box. What's it worth? $600?
 
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Well excuse me hondo 44...I can read, and I was aware of what everyone here said about it, my intent was to see what Ruger had to say about it rather than a lot of speculation. They sent an email and answered my questions.
 
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If it was earlier, the GB ad no longer says "stainless" anywhere that I could find. Maybe he corrected that part. There's nothing especially rare about it, in terms of it's original configuration. It was a flattop . 44 that's been cut down, polished out and/or plated, and had a Super gripframe added. It's purely a shooter, IMO - If you like the mods. And worth about $500 - $600.
 

T.A. WORKMAN

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Well excuse me hondo 44...I can read, and I was aware of what everyone here said about it, my intent was to see what Ruger had to say about it rather than a lot of speculation. They sent an email and answered my questions.
Daryl,
Welcome to the Forum!
Trust me Hondo 44 meant you no disrespect, I have followed him on this forum for years and that is just not his style! He is a wealth of knowledge and shares it freely!
Unfortunately that's the problem communicating with a keyboard vs talking to one another, I plead guilty myself from time to time. :unsure:;)

Thank you for sharing the info you received from Ruger!
Best
Terry
 

Snake Pleskin

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If it was earlier, the GB ad no longer says "stainless" anywhere that I could find. Maybe he corrected that part. There's nothing especially rare about it, in terms of it's original configuration. It was a flattop . 44 that's been cut down, polished out and/or plated, and had a Super gripframe added. It's purely a shooter, IMO - If you like the mods. And worth about $500 - $600.
I think it would sell for more. I see them on GB every day and not nearly as nice. A lot of people like semi custom types, and shooters, not some safe queen that sits in a box for 20 yrs doing nothing . IMHO
 

beentheredone

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Please put a magnet on it. That will tell you something. And for comparison, try the magnet on a blue steel gun. Report back please. Thank you. David
This old chestnut again.

Yes, there are non-magnetic alloys of stainless steel. No, they are NOT used in guns, but in such things as refrigerator bodies. A stainless handgun will attract a magnet exactly the same as a blued steel one.
 
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If it was earlier, the GB ad no longer says "stainless" anywhere that I could find. Maybe he corrected that part. There's nothing especially rare about it, in terms of it's original configuration. It was a flattop . 44 that's been cut down, polished out and/or plated, and had a Super gripframe added. It's purely a shooter, IMO - If you like the mods. And worth about $500 - $600.
I contacted the seller on GB with the info I shared here from Ruger, that the the gun shipped from the factory as a 6 1/2" BLUE Super Blackhawk and is not a "rare" S/S model, along with the box & grips being incorrect. He has since dropped the S/S description, but that's all. Not trying to bust his chops, but rather thought he might have better luck with his sale if he listed it correctly.
I put "Super" in there by mistake... sorry. As quoted from Ruger's reply to me it is a "Blackhawk", not a "Super Blackhawk.
 
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Snake Pleskin

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Ultra rare?
Not at all. Many Bubba kitchen table guns in this world.
Each are usually worth only the sum of their parts.
Not rare but it is still a viable firearm and possibly good shooter etc. Who cares if it i not original or has a box? Who shoots the box? No one. I would never pay more for a firearm because it has a box. If you send a firearm to Cylinder & Slide, Clements, Bowen or Trumbull, does that make it worth more or less? If the work is done well, that is what matters. IMHO
 

Rclark

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Not rare but it is still a viable firearm and possibly good shooter etc. Who cares if it i not original or has a box? Who shoots the box? No one. I would never pay more for a firearm because it has a box. If you send a firearm to Cylinder & Slide, Clements, Bowen or Trumbull, does that make it worth more or less? If the work is done well, that is what matters. IMHO

My sentiments too. Also we are all different on how we view things. This gun has no real appeal to me visually. I mostly like blued/case hardened/case colored revolvers. Others feel differently and may prefer bright polished steel. All good. In the end... does it shoot to POA or not :) . That's the most important thing.
 

Danny

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Looking at the address on the barrel, it looks to have been polished, and not very well. There were quite a few finishes in the 70's and 80's such as Metaloy, Armaloy, etc. that looked exactly like stainless. This needs a letter from Ruger.
Whatever happened to Armaloy? That was the biggest thing in the gun magazines back then. As quickly as it came, it disappeared.

Danny
 
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I contacted the seller on GB with the info I shared here from Ruger, that the the gun shipped from the factory as a 6 1/2" BLUE Super Blackhawk and is not a "rare" S/S model, along with the box & grips being incorrect. He has since dropped the S/S description, but that's all. Not trying to bust his chops, but rather thought he might have better luck with his sale if he listed it correctly.
Close but no cigar. The revolver shipped as a Blue Steel Blackhawk 44 mag in 1959??? with the std. 61/2" barrel just as most of the other 44 Mags. It states on the left side of the frame as to what model and caliber it is. Not a SUPER BLACKHAWK
 
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Close but no cigar. The revolver shipped as a Blue Steel Blackhawk 44 mag in 1959??? with the std. 61/2" barrel just as most of the other 44 Mags. It states on the left side of the frame as to what model and caliber it is. Not a SUPER BLACKHAWK
Excuse me again... I posted the response from Ruger and mistakenly put "Super Blackhawk" in that reply...
Quote from RUGER:
"Thank you for contacting Ruger Customer Service.
Your Customer Service Issue # is 10348767
.44 Blackhawk serial number 17244 is a BKH-46, .44 Magnum, blue, 6 1/2" barrel, walnut grips, manufactured and shipped in June 1959
Ruger Customer Service"
Sheesh! Must be nice to have never made a mistake.
 
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contender

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Daryl,,
We all make mistakes. Including myself. Having been around here for a while,, and had many, many conversations with both Hondo & Jim,, I can say that neither one of them meant anything. In fact,, as stated previously,, trying to convey thoughts & feelings can get lost when typing.
And Jim,, I'd bet a tank full of aviation fuel against a doughnut that he made the mistake of NOT reading all your post about you making the minor mistake of adding "Super" to your post.
I read your posts,, and was interested,, BECAUSE it was verified by Ruger as a "Blackhawk" & not the Super Blackhawk.
I had suspected that,, due to it being a Flattop,, and thought; "Dern,, a customized FT, and definitely not a stainless gun. Ruger verified it as a "normal" FT, so heck,,, a nice shooter.

Try to not be too harsh on Hondo or Jim. They truly are nice guys.

And they too can make mistakes. :D :D
 

3manfan

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Not a Ruger finish, it was plated by some other entity & other mod's done that've been commented on.
Looks like an outstanding job though, if you've got the scratch it'd be a nice '1 of a kind' to have.
 
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